Experiment Questions
Alcohol from Yeast
Alcohol from Yeast
Yeast cells produce ethanol (alcohol) in a process called fermentation.
(i) Is this process affected by temperature? (ii) Explain your answer
(i) Yes
(ii) (Rate of) enzyme reaction affected by temperature
Alcohol from Yeast
Name a substance that yeast can use to make ethanol.
Sugar or named sugar or starch
Alcohol from Yeast
What substance, other than ethanol, is produced during fermentation?
Carbon dioxide or any product of glycolysis
Alcohol from Yeast
Describe the control that you used in this experiment.
Yeast absent (or dead) in same set up as expt.
Alcohol from Yeast
How did you know when the fermentation was finished?
No more gas given off (no more bubbles)
Alcohol from Yeast
Why were solutions of potassium iodide and sodium hypochlorite added to the reaction
vessels after a certain period of time?
To test for presence of alcohol
Alcohol from Yeast
Name a substance produced during aerobic respiration that is not produced during
fermentation.
Water
Alcohol from Yeast
Describe how you would keep yeast under anaerobic conditions in the laboratory.
e.g. Keep in water under oil
Alcohol from Yeast
Name a carbohydrate that you would supply to the yeast as an energy source.
Sugar or named sugar or starch
Alcohol from Yeast
Give an account of a chemical test to demonstrate that alcohol (ethanol) has been produced. Include the initial colour and final
colour of the test.
Potassium dichromate / add acid or warm / orange / to green OR Iodoform test or
potassium iodide / add sodium hypochlorite / warm / colourless / to yellow
Alcohol from Yeast
What is the other substance, other than alcohol, produced under anaerobic conditions?
Carbon dioxide
Alcohol from Yeast
Alcohol (ethanol) production is an example of fermentation. How would you know when
fermentation has ceased?
No more bubbles given off
Alcohol from Yeast
Why does fermentation eventually cease?
Alcohol kills yeast or yeast dies or sugar used up
Alcohol from Yeast
The water was boiled and cooled before adding the yeast. Why?
To remove the oxygen
Alcohol from Yeast
Why do you think a layer of oil has been put on top of the water?
To keep the system anaerobic / to stop O2 getting in
Alcohol from Yeast
Describe how you used yeast to produce alcohol (ethanol).
Container / yeast / water / sugar / fermentation lock or Bunsen valve / control /
incubate / boiling / cooling / oil / time /ethanol (alcohol) / CO2 produced
Alcohol from Yeast
How did you show that alcohol had been produced?
H2SO4 (acidified) + Potassium (sodium) dichromate – orange to green
Iodoform test - brown to yellow
Alcohol from Yeast
The water that you used in the apparatus was previously boiled and cooled. Why was this?
To remove oxygen or air or to sterilise water or to prevent yeast death or to prevent enzyme
denaturation
Alcohol from Yeast
In your investigation it was necessary to exclude air. How was this done?
Layer of oil or fermentation trap
Alcohol from Yeast
Describe briefly a test to show that alcohol had been produced.
H2SO4 (acidified) + Potassium (sodium) dichromate – orange to green
Iodoform test - brown to yellow
Alcohol from Yeast
Name the solution in which you placed the yeast at the start of the activity.
Glucose solution
Alcohol from Yeast
Give the temperature at which you kept the solution.
15oC to 40oC
Alcohol from Yeast
How did you know that alcohol production had ceased?
Bubbling stops / Yeast settles / Solution clears
Alcohol from Yeast
Name the test or chemical(s) used to show that alcohol had been produced.
e.g. Iodoform test or chemicals or bleach / Dichromate